Gam Neguma to develop 100 villages

S. B. Disanayake, Gampaha group correspondent

GAMPAHA: Nearly a 100 poor villages islandwide are to be developed in a 3-phase project to uplift the living conditions of the poorest areas under the Gam Neguma project.

The villages were selected in consultation with the Census and Statistics Department. This project is organised by the Rural Livelihood Ministry.

According to Ministry spokesman the first phase was started on March 2 and 10 villages were developed under this project. Villages in Moneragala, Hambantota, Badulla, Anuradhapura, Puttalam, Matale, Kandy and Nuwara Eliya were covered in the first phase.

The second phase commenced on July 27 with 34 villages and started from Ratnapura district. The third phase would see 60 villages islandwide.

He said when a village is selected Samurdhi officials meet with people and find out the immediate needs and priorities and development plans will be designed and implemented.